| New research reveals that more than two-thirds of individuals whose NHS care has been cancelled or postponed in 2023 have experienced significant impacts on their lives or symptoms. The survey has also found that many people have experienced delays to planned care two or more times and that many often find out with little or no notice. Our research shows that those more likely to experience multiple delays are the same individuals who are most likely to face health inequalities. These include disabled people, neurodivergent people, lower-income people, and ethnic minorities. Specific communities were also more likely to report negative impacts on their lives because their care had been delayed. These include unpaid carers, people with low incomes, and individuals from minority ethnic backgrounds. When we launched the research, the NHS had already rescheduled more than 648,000 operations or appointments since mid-December 2022 due to industrial action taken by staff in their pay dispute with the government. |
Cancelled care research
New national research reveals that more than two-thirds of individuals whose NHS care has been cancelled or postponed in 2023 have experienced significant impacts on their lives or symptoms.